SWEPCO to Celebrate South Ark. Plant Opening

HOPE, Ark. (AP) — A dedication ceremony is planned in south Arkansas for Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s new coal-fired power plant.

The ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday in Hope. SWEPCO initially planned to have the event at the John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant, but moved the ceremony to Hope because of the threat of severe weather.

The 600-megawatt coal-fired plant began commercial operations in December 2012. Construction began in 2008, though SWEPCO encountered several legal obstacles after environmental groups sued to stop the project.

The Turk Plant serves customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas but it does not include retail customers in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Supreme Court overturned the air permit SWEPCO received from the state public service commission. SWEPCO chose not to seek a new air permit.